Harness-tug reinforcement.



PATENTED MAY 26', 1903.

D. w. HAWKINS.

HARNESS TUG REINFORCEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

f Inveniar Jeane Wifawifz'ns UNiTnn STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

DEANE W. HAl/VKINS, OF CLEVELAND, MISSOURI.

HARNESS-TUG REINFORCEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 728,913, dated May 26, 1903. Application filed December 19, 1902. $erial No. 185,845. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DEANE W. HAWKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cass and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness-Tug Reinforcements, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in harness tugs or traces; and my object is to in crease the durability of the traces at the eye, Where they receive the full strain of the load on acomparatively small edge and frequently wear through or pull out, while the rest of the trace is in good condition. By reinforcing the trace at the eye with my improvement it is rendered stronger at this point than at any other, and consequently its wearing qualities will be greatly prolonged.

The invention consists of a piece of suitable material, preferably leather, of peculiar shape, which is folded and inserted in the eye of the trace, to the sides of which latter it is reliably secured by stitching or riveting and When in position presents a broad wearingsurface to the singletree, which prevents defacement of the latter, in addition to prolong ing its own wearing qualities.

In order that others skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains may make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a broken perspective View of the rear portion of a harness-trace provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the reinforcingstrip in a folded position preparatory to insorting it in the eye of the trace. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the reinforcing-strip. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line IV IV of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention I employ a strip of leather 1 of suitable size provided at its central portion 2 with marginal V cuts 3 to facilitate the folding of the strip at this point and prevent it from projecting too far beyond the opposite sides of trace 4 when secured in the eye of the latter. The longitudinal edges 5 of the strip extend in compound curves 6 from the\/ cuts to points about midway between said cuts. and the opposite ends 7 of the strip and continue in substantially parallel lines from said midway points to said opposite ends 7, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when said longitudinal edges are secured to the opposite sides of the trace the curved portions 6 will correspond to the swelled portion 8 of the trace, as shown in Fig. 1. The opposite ends of strip 1 are divided into four equal sections 9 by longitudinal slits 10, extending from the central portions of ends 7 inwardly about one-third the length of the strip, so that when the latter is applied to the trace sections 9 may be folded up against the sides thereof and secured at their top and bottom edges by stitches 11, while the intervening portion 12 of the strip extends through the eye 13 in the trace and provides a lining for the top, bottom, and rear side thereof, as shown in Fig. 4., and thus prevents the trace from wearing or pulling out at the eye.

From the above description it is apparent that I have produced a trace-reinforcement which is inexpensive to produce, easily applied, and thoroughly effective for the purpose intended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Iatout, is v 1. As a new article of manufacture, a barness-trace reinforcement comprising a strip of suitable material adapted to be folded and inserted in the eye of the trace, and provided with longitudinal slits dividing its opposite end portions into sections which are adapted to'be secured to the sides of the trace.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a harmess-trace reinforcement comprising a strip of suitable material tapering in opposite directions from its transverse central portion where it is adapted to be folded and inserted in the eye of the trace, marginal recesses at said transverse central portion, and longitudinal slits dividing its opposite end portions into sections which are adapted to be secured to the sides of the trace, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DEANF. W. HAWKINS. Witnesses:

G. W. CABLE, W. F. INKS. 

